How Close Are SEO Marketers to the Essence of Search?

Today’s search technology has radically transformed the way information is looked up. Whether its news, articles, or blogs, mankind’s very quest for answers has evolved.

And even now, new features and security measures are still being introduced to browsers and search engines for analysis, distribution, and all for the purpose of delivering the correct content users want to see. But despite all those advanced algorithms, the finer essence of a search continues to escape SEO marketers and junkies. There are just so many ways that users control their own search but so little SEO info on those diverse controls.

Take the phenomenon of AutoComplete suggestions that allegedly reflect the words people have been generally searching for. It’s not that hard to assume that the most predictable search queries become a sort of indirect guide to what is most talked about on the web.

It’s not just the keywords either. Plenty of other influences come into play that SEO marketers don’t seem to talk as much:

The SafeSearch function – Ideally, this represents the control of censoring your searches so you can prevent kids from searching explicit content. Is it just to protect kids though? The same ‘explicit’ content falls right under the NSFW label. Who’s to say the same function won’t be screening out your content on the same grounds?

Formal protests to search engines – Sometimes certain queries are so prevalent, activists demand companies to take action (e.g. racist suggestions). Google itself has blacklistedcertain suggestions because of their associations to online piracy. This certainly questions the idea that search engines can be unfeeling, autonomous, and monotonous machines.

Content type filters – You also have the filters for videos, images, and even locations. This should serve to remind SEO marketers that text isn’t the only kind of content that potential clients look up. Infographics, keynote presentations, and other forms of media are needed to really extend your reach.

Of course, it can be hard enough as it is when users themselves can be ambiguous about what they’re searching for. Perhaps it would better if you started understanding them, before trying to understand the words they’re putting on Google.